Skunk Works

Most people don’t know this, but I have a sister.  And her name is Jennifer Anne.

No, neither of my parents committed some unknown indiscretion you were previously unaware of.  In fact, Jennifer Anne and I adopted each other as spiritual sisters many many years ago during a highly eventful summer vacation to the famously uneventful location of Downieville, California.  She is totally the best sister I’ve ever had.

One thing about Jennifer Anne–she has always claimed to like the smell of skunks.  I know.  I’ve always been a bit skeptical myself.  But, she says they smell good…

And then I met my firstborn biological son.  Everywhere we go, when you’re least expecting it, he gets a very serious look on his little face and starts making sniffing sounds.  Then he says, “I ‘pell someting.  I ‘pell someting, Mama.”  (That would be “I smell something.”)

And of course I’m obliged to ask, “What do you smell Jakey?”

“A ‘kunk!”  (That would be “A skunk!”)

I’m not sure if we’ve actually smelled a real skunk on any of these occasions, but it always makes me laugh.  And reminds me of my dear spiritual sister dancing with a seventh grade boyscout in a Downieville community hall to “Hotel California” while using hand signals to pantomime another offensive smell: B.O.